Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1644, the Korean Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act. I thank the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce); and the ranking member, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), for their leadership in this important legislation.

This legislation furthers North Korea's severe financial isolation by further targeting banks and money lenders to gain cooperation throughout the region. This bipartisan bill builds on the pressure and sanctions imposed under both the Bush and Obama administrations to strengthen our response to North Korea's continued belligerence by, number one, expanding sanctions on North Korea's government transactions involving precious metals, minerals, jet fuel, and coal; providing restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance to any country that buys or sells military equipment from North Korea; and provides increasing scrutiny of North Korean shipping vessels to target against trafficking, counterfeiting, and aspects of North Korea's illicit economy, among other things, in order to tighten sanctions in accordance with the United Nations Security Council. This vote comes at a critical juncture. Despite rounds of sanctions aimed at squeezing the faltering economy of North Korea, recent reports from the peninsula suggest that the country continues to gain sufficient traction to move forward.

North Korea poses a real and immediate threat to the stability in the region, to our allies, and to ourselves. By broadening eligibility activities to be sanctioned and extending the duration of sanctions to prevent arms trade, this bill will further leverage the North Korean economy to enhance our ability to reduce its nuclear threat. What is more, this bill will strengthen our ability to hinder trade between North Korea's strongest partners, including businesses and banks within Russia and China that are exposed to the international financial market. In the face of growing uncertainty and seeming lack of clarity surrounding the current administration's plan toward North Korea, this act demonstrates the strong, bipartisan, and resolute stance of this Congress in the face of increased provocative and aggressive actions by North Korea.

As an original sponsor of the unprecedented legislation signed into law last year that sanctioned North Korea for its egregious human rights violations, I am proud to now support this critical legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Trinity Christian Academy of Cape Cod in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

Originally established in January 1967 as the Trinity School of Cape Cod by a group of four ministers and three laymen, the Trinity Christian Academy of Cape Cod was created as a nonprofit independent school without affiliation to any church or denomination. The school was established for the purpose of providing a strong academic education centered in historic Christianity and founded on the basic tenets of the Bible.

Trinity first opened its doors with a pre-school and kindergarten program in South Yarmouth using two buildings owned by the Evangelical Baptist Church. Since then, the school has moved to a new campus located on Mary Dunn Road in Barnstable. It has expanded to teach students all the way through high school, preparing them for higher education. Their current enrollment is 164 students, of which 53 percent receive some level of financial aid. Further proving their dedication to academic excellence, 100 percent of Trinity Christian Academy of Cape Cod graduates are accepted into their college of choice.

In addition to a strong academic program, the Trinity Christian Academy of Cape Cod's high school leadership development program guides their students to embrace the message of Christ in their daily lives and to go on and become influential and compassionate leaders. This program provides ample opportunity

for students to reach out and serve those who are marginalized in their community resulting in empathetic leadership skills. Trinity students actively mentor elementary students at local public schools and have partnered with local daycares which service lower income families, providing Christmas gifts, activities, and story time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Trinity Christian Academy of Cape Cod on its 50th Anniversary. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the school's five decades of service and commitment to academic excellence and I look forward to seeing all that they are able to accomplish in the next 50 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Frederic B. Presbrey on the occasion of his retirement from the Housing Assistance Corporation in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

Frederic, or Rick as he is known to friends, family, and colleagues, founded the Housing Assistance Corporation in December of 1974 with the intention of finding and securing housing for those who need it most. Rick's advocacy has not only helped to create five shelter programs and 484 units of affordable housing across the Cape and Islands but led to the establishment of the Consumer Education Department. This department has been instrumental in educating first-time home buyers since 1990. In addition, Rick created the Housing Consumer Education Center to give Massachusetts residents access to housing counselors for vital information on buying, owning, developing or renting real estate. Further, Rick's astute leadership has led to the creation of over thirty programs and services aimed not only at helping individuals find housing but also to maintain secure, safe, and stable homes.

Rick has shaped how we on Cape Cod and in the Commonwealth view housing needs. He has personally worked with state, local, and federal officials and other community stakeholders to help resolve numerous housing concerns and has served as an invaluable resource for policymakers and home seekers alike.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Frederic B. Presbrey for his service and achievements on this occasion. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing him a happy retirement and many more years of health and happiness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Cronig's Market on Martha's Vineyard, which on March 10th will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary.

The Cronig Brothers grocery store was opened in 1917 by the four Cronig Brothers, Sam, Ed, Theodore or ``Tebby'', and Henry Cronig, first generation immigrants from Lithuania. Sam Cronig, the oldest son of ten siblings, came to the United States in 1904 and arrived on Martha's Vineyard in 1905 to work on a farm in Eastville. He soon moved on to work for several established grocery stores up until 1917, when he and his three brothers opened the Cronig Brothers grocery store.

Though the store experienced the trials and tribulations of a small retail business of that era, by 1923, the Cronigs had 51 employees on their payroll. Through the early years of business, it has been referred to as Cronig Bros. Public Market, The Public Market and Vineyard Haven Public Market. It continued its rapid expansion from a store front to occupying an entire building by 1940.

1957 marked the end of an era. Sam Cronig retired and handed over operational control to his sons, Robert and David Cronig. A decade later, Jeffrey and Donald Cronig had also joined the store. Robert and David then went on to add a second supermarket to the growing business, eventually handing over management to Steve Bernier in 1986.

Today, Cronig's has expanded to three locations, the larger Down- Island Cronig's, the cozy Up-Island Cronig's, and Healthy Additions, a two floor health food and supplement store. A pillar in the Martha's Vineyard community, Cronig's has remained committed to its customers by providing fresh, local ingredients and has led the way with several eco-friendly initiatives.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Cronig's Market on this joyous occasion. I ask that my colleagues join me in commemorating the Market's centennial year and look forward to a future of continued prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, this beautiful child is Charlie.

Charlie is an infant from Westport, Massachusetts. Charlie's dad has a green card and his mom is an American citizen.

Charlie's mom wrote me to share their family's Affordable Care Act story, an important one, yet, in many respects, not that uncommon.

When Charlie was born, his mother had to postpone her Ph.D. ambitions because she needed a full-time job to support her family. Although she has two master's degrees, she is working over 40 hours per week in a restaurant. That restaurant doesn't offer benefits, so Charlie's mom has to purchase her own health insurance policy for her family. The Affordable Care Act has helped them find the health plan they need at a price they can afford. Charlie's family got covered.

Charlie's mom also wrote me to tell me that, on January 21, she came to Washington and marched with women from around the world because of the fact that all families like hers should have health care, for all children like Charlie who need health care, and because she believes Americans should want all their neighbors to be healthy.

I agree with Charlie's mom. We should all have access to essential healthcare services. This is a family working to make it on their own, not seeking transitional assistance from the government, sacrificing to move their family forward, striving to succeed, to earn the American Dream. The Affordable Care Act provides them this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in strong support of my legislation H.R. 665, the Airport Perimeter and Access Control Security Act.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be joined by my colleague from New York (Mr. Katko), as well as my colleagues, Ranking Member Thompson, and Members Rice, Richmond, and Swalwell.

Since I first was elected to Congress in 2010, I have worked to secure our Nation's airports from porous perimeters and unsecure access control points.

Last year, at my request, the Government Accountability Office released an independent report of all airports within the Transportation Security Administration's presence.

While TSA has made some progress in assessing risks at airport perimeters and access control security points, the GAO report revealed that the agency had not taken emerging threats or the unique makeup and design of individual airports into consideration.

More and more, we have seen that terrorists are targeting the soft areas in our airport perimeters and within the airport itself. Terrorists are looking for these soft targets. We have seen it in Europe. We have seen these tragedies in Brussels. We have seen it in Istanbul. And, sadly, we have seen it here at home in Fort Lauderdale.

Updating the risk assessment of airport secured with information that reflects the current threat ensures that TSA bases its decision on the latest information, enabling it to focus limited resources to the highest priority risks to airport security.

The TSA's efforts to access, really, our entire airport security around the country, has been, frankly, inadequate. The numbers are startling. From 2009 to 2015, TSA conducted comprehensive risk assessments at only 81 of the 437 commercial airports nationwide--or 19 percent. Some years, this really represented only 3 percent of the airports that were assessed at all.

The Airport Perimeter and Access Control Security Act will make law the recommendations from the independent report and increase safety at airports nationwide. Further, this bill incorporates the input of major airport operators--whose concerns for lack of individualized security strategy we heard from firsthand.

Last year, the Associated Press revealed that there had been at least 268 perimeter security breaches at 31 major U.S. airports. From 2004 to 2015, their investigation found that intruders breached airport fences, on average, every 13 days.

This figure includes a fatal incident, a tragic incident that I investigated before I came to Congress as a district attorney when Delvonte Tisdale, a teenager from North Carolina, snuck onto the tarmac at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and stowed away undetected in a wheel well of a commercial 737 on a flight to Boston.

The figures I mentioned really don't account for the many unreported instances of perimeter breaches, including things like trespassers or people that scale the fences around the perimeter.

We are lucky that all of these individuals did not harbor nefarious intentions. But that does not mitigate the risk posed by such behavior at airports, employees and others, and the passengers and travelers who rely on TSA officers and the airport operators for their security.

As you may recall, this legislation passed the House of Representatives with the support of my colleagues last year and has been a long time coming.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank everyone that worked so hard to make this bill a reality, and to have the success it did last year, and, hopefully, go all the way and get enacted into law this year.

The recent tragedies demonstrated at airports remain a steady target for terrorists and nefarious actors. This bipartisan legislation will close loops in the airport security practices and procedures and bring us closer to ensuring that the access control points and the perimeters of all of the unique designs are as secure as possible.

Passage of H.R. 665 is an important step in the safety of passengers, pilots, and the airport employees.

I thank the chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee again, Mr. Katko; the full committee ranking member, Mr. Thompson; and Representatives Rice, Richmond, and Swalwell for joining me in requesting this report and in supporting this legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 665.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 505.

I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. McSally) for her work on this bill.

Over the past several years, the Government Accountability Office has examined various Department of Homeland Security programs and concluded that the Department has not followed standard best practices for acquisitions management. Though DHS has taken steps to improve its performance, there remains specific deficiencies in how it carries out major acquisitions.

When a DHS acquisition program falls short in terms of effectiveness or efficiency, this not only risks undermining that program, but also risks wasting the limited homeland security dollars that are available to us. We owe it to the American public not to repeat our mistakes.

This bill is intended to strengthen accountability for the acquisition and use of border security technology by the Department of Homeland Security. This bill would require all major acquisitions for border security technology to have written documentation of costs, schedule, and performance thresholds and demonstrate that the program is meeting these thresholds.

The bill also requires coordination and submission to Congress of a plan for testing and evaluation, as well as the use of independent verification and validation of resources for border security technology.

Addressing border security technology acquisitions is an important step toward bettering acquisitions and

management overall. We owe it to the American taxpayer to make sure we are managing these investments wisely and preventing wasteful spending.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 505 aims to focus and improve the way we invest and manage border security technology by providing a specific framework for accountability and oversight on behalf of the American taxpayer. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 677, the CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2017.

Mr. Speaker, last Congress, the Committee on Homeland Security held several hearings to evaluate Federal, State, and local capabilities to prevent, identify, and respond to a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack, a CBRN threat.

Although the State and local stakeholders we heard from were generally aware of the evolving CBRN threat, there was a consistent message from everyone who testified--from public health professionals to emergency managers, to first responders--improved information sharing would make our communities safer.

H.R. 677 would facilitate improved CBRN information sharing by directing DHS to analyze CBRN-related terrorist threats and share relevant threat information with Federal, State, and local stakeholders. These activities will both improve situational awareness at all levels of government and help DHS grant recipients better target their limited grant dollars to address this particular threat.

The CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act passed the House overwhelmingly last Congress, and I urge my colleagues to support the measure once again.

Information sharing is at the core of our ability to prevent, thwart, and respond to threats posed by bad actors. H.R. 677 would facilitate information sharing in the CBRN space where the threats are constantly evolving. This commonsense legislation costs next to nothing but will reap significant benefits.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 677.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 678, and I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. McSally).

I rise in strong support as a cosponsor of H.R. 678, the Department of Homeland Security Support to Fusion Centers Act of 2017.

Since coming to Congress, I have worked to enhance and secure intelligence information sharing among both domestic and international partners. A key mechanism to fostering such information sharing has been the development of a network of fusion centers across the Nation. These centers allow Federal intelligence and homeland security information to be shared with State and local law enforcement and other key stakeholders.

For fusion centers to realize their full promise, it remains critical that personnel assigned to fusion centers be able to access Department of Homeland Security information, data, and personnel.

In the course of conducting oversight of fusion centers, the committee has learned that not enough State and local analysts and officials assigned to these centers have the TS/SCI clearances necessary to foster the timely sharing of homeland security information and intelligence.

H.R. 678 would authorize the DHS to sponsor such State and local analysts for security clearances. Last Congress, this bill passed unanimously by our committee.

I urge the passage of H.R. 678, the Department of Homeland Security Support to Fusion Centers Act of 2017. This is legislation that will help ensure that key fusion center personnel have access to the security clearances they need to keep our communities secure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, let me share with you and the Members an Affordable Care Act story from Gwyneth Packard, from my hometown of Bourne, Massachusetts. Gwyneth contacted me to tell me about her uncle, Wayne Dickason.

It was Thanksgiving 2015, and Wayne went to see his doctor because he was not feeling well. His doctor ran some tests. The next day, Wayne received an unnerving call asking him to come back in. Before he could make the next appointment, Wayne's insurance provider called his employer to inform the company that its rates would be going up because one of its employees had cancer. Wayne had been a computer technician at his company for 18 years. His boss knew he had not been feeling well, so it was not hard for him to figure out which employee was the cause since Wayne was the only one who was sick. At work the next day, Wayne's boss called him into the office and said he was laying him off because his company couldn't afford the new premium.

Thankfully, Wayne was able to purchase coverage through the insurance exchange. Wayne saw his doctor, got his official diagnosis, and began formulating a plan. Because he was able to purchase health care, even with his having preexisting conditions, Wayne got the lifesaving surgery he needed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Genevieve M. Kuzia, who is turning 100 years old on January 5, 2017.

Gerry, as she is known to all, was one of seven daughters born to Stephanie and Anthony Kazmierezyk in Boston, Massachusetts. As a child Gerry moved with her family down to Delaware for three years so her father could work on the railroad. In 1923, they moved back to the Commonwealth and settled in Hyde Park. After finishing at Hyde Park High School in 1935, Gerry worked for a law firm in Boston for several years.

It was at the wedding of a family friend that Gerry met Francis A. Kuzia, who had just been honorably discharged from the Marine Corps. Francis, or Frank as he was known, and Gerry fell in love and were married on July 13, 1942 and settled in Hyde Park to have three children--Paul, Susan and Robert. After raising three wonderful children and spending her time as a fulltime caring and loving mother, Gerry went back to work for the Hyde Park branch of the Boston Public Library where she worked for 16 years till her retirement in 1982.

After losing the love of her life, Frank, in 1993, Gerry moved to Braintree, Massachusetts before moving to the Cape Cod Senior Residences in 2009 due to failing eyesight. Always armed with a smile and a kind word, Gerry is beloved at Cape Cod Senior Residences.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Gerry on this joyous occasion. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing her many more years of good health and continued happiness.

Article VI:

``All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

``This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.''

Mr. Speaker, on February 2, 2015, I missed recorded votes #51-53 due to weather-related travel delays.

I would like to reflect how I would have voted if I were present:

On Roll Call #51, I would have voted YEA (Passage of H.R. 361, the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act).

On Roll Call #52, I would have voted YEA (Passage of H.R. 615, the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act).

On Roll Call #53, I would have voted YEA (Passage of H.R. 623, the Social Media Working Group Act of 2015).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Police Chief Mike Whalen upon his retirement after ten years of dedicated service to the town of Dennis, Massachusetts.

Chief Whalen began his distinguished career as a patrolman in Farmington, Connecticut. Over the next thirty years, he tirelessly worked his way up the ranks of the greater Hartford police department, rising from patrolman to Chief of Police in the Connecticut State Capitol. In 2004, the Cape Cod community was particularly fortunate when Chief Whalen came to Dennis. During his ten years with the Dennis Police Department, Chief Whalen has been a remarkable leader and has built on his strong reputation for modernizing local police work. Every community that Chief Whalen has touched has benefited as a result of his work, and his guidance and leadership will surely be missed in the town of Dennis.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I commend Chief Mike Whalen. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing him a long and happy retirement and in thanking him for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Middleboro as it celebrates its 125th anniversary this year.

The First Unitarian Universalist Society has long been a central fixture in the Middleboro community. On June 29, 1889, after the new church first sought formal recognition, its members hired Unitarian minister Rev. William Ramsey of Salem to lead the church for its first year. Not long after, local member Enoch Pratt donated a lot on Pearl Street, where the group's first church was opened on October 26, 1890. While this was the original site of the modern-day building, it is not where the church can be found today, as in the early 1900s a more central and visible plot of land was gifted to the church by member David Pratt. The building was then cut into three pieces, led through the streets, and remounted in its current location.

While society changed drastically over the course of the next century, the First Unitarian

Universalist Church remained a central part of the local community. An early advocate of equality, the Society called its first woman minister, Clara Cook-Helve, in 1929, and she became a prominent voice in the town throughout the Great Depression. Today, the Society remains a vibrant presence in Middleboro and continues its strong focus on community service and equality for all.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Middleboro as it celebrates its 125th anniversary and in wishing the Society well in the years to come.